Introduction

As information technology (IT) continues to advance rapidly, the demand for IT project managers also will increase. The U.S. Department of Labor indicates that the systems analyst project manager will be the largest and most quickly growing occupation through the year 2018. This is a good indicator of the growing demand for professionals trained in IT project management.

Program Overview

People in every industry manage projects. Today's project management involves much more than just overseeing a few key project parameters. As technology has evolved, so has the use of computer hardware, software, networks and interdisciplinary and global work teams as a part of project management. This is why Robert Morris University created the Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Technology Project Management degree program.

While there are approximately 40 undergraduate and graduate programs in project management in the United States, almost all of them focus tightly on issues relating to scheduling and resource management for military and construction industry projects. Robert Morris University's M.S. in Information Technology Project Management is the first graduate degree program in the nation to focus specifically on IT project management.

Program Objectives

The program is designed for I/T professionals and practitioners who either work in or plan to work in a project-oriented environment. The degree will prepare students to apply knowledge and provide leadership in the I/T project management environment.

This degree will prepare you to:

Apply knowledge and provide leadership in the IT project management environment;

Demonstrate an advanced level of intellectual achievement in the context of IT project management;

Synthesize theory and practice of appropriate project management concepts in the design and development of IT projects; and

Utilize project management software to help plan, control, and document the use of the Project Management Institute's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)A? knowledge areas and processes for any given IT project.

The program also incorporates an applied research/internship component that allows you to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations and problems.

Curriculum

The M.S. in Information Technology Project Management is a 30-credit program comprised of 21 credits of core courses, including a six-credit research project, and nine credits of specialization courses. You may choose to pursue an information systems specialization or a general specialization, in which you may select graduate-level courses from a variety of areas (e.g., business, communications) to tailor the degree to your career goals. Specialization courses may be taken concurrently with core courses.

Specialization Courses - 9 credits

Specializations

Specialization courses are designed to enhance and broaden your background. A total of nine credits must be taken in the specialization area. Specialization options include:

Information Systems

INFS6010 Decision Support Systems Analysis & Design

And any two of the following:

INFS6040 Management Information Systems

INFS6220 Systems Analysis

INFS6230 Network/Data Communications

INFS6240 Database Management Systems

General

Three approved graduate-level courses in a related area of study.

Course Sequence

The M.S. in Information Technology Project Management is offered in an accelerated eight-week evening format. You can begin in the fall, spring or summer semester. Part-time students can complete the degree in 24 months, attending just one course per eight-week session. The following is a sample course sequence:

Year One

Fall 1st Eight Weeks COIS 7479

Fall 2nd Eight Weeks INFS7520

Spring First Eight Weeks INFS7530

Spring 2nd Eight Weeks INFS7550

Summer Session Specialization Course

Year Two

Fall 1st Eight Weeks INFS7560

Fall 2nd Eight Weeks INFS7571

Spring First Eight Weeks INFS7520 and Specialization Course

Spring 2nd Eight Weeks INFS7573 and Specialization Course

Summer Session INFS7570

Admission Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution

A minimum undergraduate QPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale

At least a 'B' grade in each of the following courses (or equivalent titles):

Systems Analysis and Design

Database Management Systems

Any programming language

Students who have not completed a specific course may be admitted provisionally but will be required to complete the course during the first semester of enrollment at RMU.